CRESTVIEW — Need something to do this weekend? Check out these fun events:

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 3 things to do this week in Northwest Florida

PENSACOLA — With shrinking habitats and other threats, some coastal and migratory birds are declining in population.

Dips for some species, like the common night hawk and Golden-winged and Cerulean warblers, are puzzling scientists, while others race to save the beach-nesting snowy plover from falling victim to Mother Nature’s coastal forces, predators and the public.

Three Gulf Power-supported Power of Flight grants will provide Operation Migration, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and Manomet Inc. researchers the data, tools, strategies and community-based stewardship actions essential to protecting coastal birds.

Researchers will focus on restoring and maintaining the ecology of coastal bird species spanning Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle, and gather critical data to better understand how to focus their conservation efforts.

The latest round of grants will build on the success of the Power of Flight program, which, since 2003, restored and enhanced more than 476,000 acres of high-priority habitat for bird species, including the red-cockaded woodpecker, northern bobwhite quail, coastal birds and others.

To date, 88 Power of Flight-supported projects have been implemented across the region served by the Gulf Power and the other Southern Company system’s electric utility subsidiaries.

Operation Migration will conduct monitoring and outreach efforts in support of conserving the critically endangered whooping crane and building a self-sustaining population in the Southeast.

Activities include tracking and monitoring young-of-year cranes following their release, as well as adult cranes in the population during north-south migration flights and spring nesting activities.

The grant also allows conducting web outreach to increase general awareness and provide migration progress updates.

This will be the first time in four years the birds won’t be escorted to St. Marks National Wildlife Preserve near Tallahassee by an ultra light aircraft. For that reason, the Gulf Power service area and west to the Mississippi border and east to the Atlantic coast will be monitored for the migrating birds.

The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute will map the distribution, abundance, timing and habitat affiliations of birds during the spring and fall migrations around the Gulf Coast, including in the Gulf Power service area, using weather radar and citizen-collected data.

Conservation planners and policymakers will use resulting maps as decision-support tools to develop Gulf Power-wide conservation priorities for North America’s migratory birds.

Manomet Inc. will work with federal and state agencies and nongovernmental organizations to develop a framework to achieve long-term conservation and recovery goals for targeted species of coastal waterbirds across the Gulf Coast.

The work will build on the Atlantic Flyway Shorebird Conservation Initiative Business Plan, American Oystercatcher Recovery Business Plan and the recently completed Florida Beach-Nesting Bird Plan. The framework will create strategies with associated actions and costs to guide coastal shorebird and waterbird conservation projects throughout the Gulf Coast region over the next decade.

Audubon Florida is part of the Manomet program.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Gulf Power grants support coastal, migratory bird conservation (VIDEO)

CRESTVIEW — There’s a reason commercial unmanned aerial vehicle operators must be licensed pilots.

A recent near-collision between a sightseeing helicopter and a drone over Crab Island illustrates the point, said Mario Werth, owner, operator and chief pilot of Advanced Aerial Operations in Crestview.

4 THINGS TO CONSIDER

“What most people miss is a pilot next to you to take responsibility,” Werth said, adding operators of many aerial imaging services don’t understand the technicalities that come with flying drones.

These considerations include:

●Air temperature: “The hotter it is, the thinner the air, the poorer the flight time,” Werth said.

●Heating the battery: Drones should have internal battery heaters to extend flying time.

●Decreasing rotor rate when descending. Some pilots damage their vehicles by speeding up the rotor rate thinking it will slow the descent. Actually, it creates greater “rotor wash,” or air disturbance, which gives the rotors less air to “grab,” Werth said.

●Scan air operations scanner radio: “We’re in the middle of military and commercial flight paths,” Werth said.

DRONES’ NUANCES

“People say, ‘Why do I need to know all this? It’s just a little toy!’” Werth said. “But it’s not when you go commercial.”

The near mishap in Destin shows that “you always have to give way to manned aircraft,” Werth said. “The Destin drone operator came within 50 feet of a sightseeing helicopter. He could have an $11,000 fine. That can bankrupt his company.”

It could’ve been even worse. “If that had hit in the tail rotor, it would have been a fatality,” Werth said.

He knows — in addition to operating drones, Werth is a licensed helicopter pilot, specializing in the bubble-canopied Bell 47, “the ‘M*A*S*H’ helicopter,” he said, referring to the TV series.

MONEY SAVER

Rather than charge clients big bucks to survey properties by helicopter, Werth can do it for a fraction of the cost with his FAA-registered, licensed and insured Phantom drone.

Clients include real estate agents who enhance sales opportunities with aerial video of listings. A Baker farmer saved “several grand” after Werth flew an aerial survey of his crops before he did a blanket insecticide spray of the entire field; the video showed suspected crop damage was in just a few areas and was much less expensively addressed.

“This technology can be a real asset and money-saver for small farmers,” state Sen. Greg Evers, a Baker farmer, said.

Equally impressed was John DiGiacomo, a government contracting specialist at the University of West Florida College of Business, who sees potential for working with Werth’s company.

Werth’s efforts aren’t all aimed at expanding his business; he volunteers with area robotics programs, such as Davidson Middle School’s, to create drone education programs.

“I love seeing progress in these programs,” Werth said. “When I can teach a student until he can teach me something, that’s the best.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Drones are assets, but be careful, Crestview pilot says (VIDEO)

CRESTVIEW — Crestview High School has cancelled Meet the Bulldogs Night.

A spokesperson said the field is too wet to safely play the middle school scrimmages that were set for Aug. 12.

The event will not be rescheduled due to the varsity Kick Off Classic and all three middle schools beginning spring football schedules next week.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview High School cancels Meet the Bulldogs Night

LAUREL HILL — A morning accident resulted in a temporary road closure in Laurel Hill Aug. 11.

Florida Highway Patrol officers were at the scene of the accident, which was reported about 6:20 a.m. at the intersection of Kemp Road and State Road 85. A logging truck — along with several scattered logs — was on its right side across the roadway.

The site was cleared of logs, truck and a fuel spill by about 9:53 a.m. that morning.

No details as to injuries or damages was available. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Logger truck, fuel spill block Laurel Hill roadway

CRESTVIEW — Area residents may attend a meet-and-greet with a North Okaloosa Physician Group orthopedic surgeon.

The event is set for David Lalli, D.O., a member of the medical staff at North Okaloosa Medical Center.

The meet-and-greet — noon Aug. 11 at Physician Medical Plaza, 550 Redstone Ave. W — includes resfreshments by Casbah Coffee Company.

For more about the NOPG, visit its website, www.northokaloosaphysiciangroup.com.

For more information, call 689-8446.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview meet-and-greet scheduled for orthopedic surgeon

CRESTVIEW — The book class for 0- to 2-year-olds, formerly known as Lap Sit, resumes this month at the Crestview library.

Stories include “All Aboard to Work — Choo-choo!” by Carol Rother. In this story, animal mothers and fathers with various professions take the train to work, and return at the end of the day to spend time with their children. 

Classes start at 9:15 or 10:15 a.m. Aug. 19. Doors open at the top of the hour.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Rother book among Crestview library reads for young children

CRESTVIEW — Yvonne Shanklin, an Edward Jones financial adviser, is sponsoring a retirement workshop later this month.

“Retirement by Design” is set for 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25 at Hideaway Pizza, 326 N. Main Street, Crestview.

Call Marcia Fleming, 682-2497, for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview retirement workshop scheduled

VALPARAISO — A free, open to the public "History Sandwiched In" presentation about the Arcadia Mill  Industrial Complex is scheduled.

Arcadia Mill Site Manager Adrianne Walker, MA, RPA, will discuss the site's industrial past with an emphasis on the community who lived and worked there and the site's historical significance.

Recent archaeological research provides details about daily life of those who inhabited the uplands surrounding the mill complex. Arcadia Mill Site Manager, Adrianne Walker, will discuss the site's industrial past with an emphasis on the community who lived and worked there and the site's historical significance.

Bring a sandwich and take your lunch break at the lecture, noon Aug. 12 at the museum, 115 Westview Ave.

Call 678-2615 to RSVP due to limited space.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Northwest Florida museum hosts presentation on Arcadia Mill